Princess Elincia's newly-formed Crimean army, with Ike as its commander, marches to Tor Garen and claims its first victory. Tor Garen is a vast wall guarding Daein's border. Manned by battalions of well-trained soldiers, it was long thought impenetrable. Yet the strength of the Crimean army under General Ike's leadership far outstrips Daein's expectations, and Tor Garen falls.
Learning of Gallia's increasing interest in the war, Ike wastes no time ordering his troops further into the heart of Daein. The gears of history, which had come to a halt with the fall of Crimea, slowly creak to life once more.
"Naesala! King Naesala of Kilvas! I will speak with you now!" General Petrine commanded.
"Oh… General Petrine. What brings you to the frosty mountain peaks?" Naesala asked.
"I've no time for pleasantries. Has Crimea's army breached Tor Garen?" Petrine asked.
"I loathe to report it. Yes, it appears to be the case," Naesala said.
"Kayachey, worthless dog… defeated by that girl's motley band just proves how useless he is," Petrine said.
"Surely it's not his fault. Well, alone. He was told that Crimea's army was weak and Tor Garen was impregnable. And yet, he was defeated. Someone severely underestimated our enemy… wouldn't you say?" Naesala asked.
"What… you dare insult Daein, crow? Men forfeit their lives for less!" Petrine said.
"Insult Daein? Never. I'm stating fact. Regardless of that previous battle's outcome, Crimea will be stopped here. I take to the field myself," Naesala said.
"You set the stage… I expect to see a grand performance, crow," Petrine said.
"Kilvas will always stand at Daein's side… as long as we receive our payment, of course," Naesala said, rubbing his fingers together.
"If gold is all it takes, may our friendship never end! See to it that your performance warrants such consideration! Homasa! Work with King Kilvas and put a stop to Crimea's army. NO screw ups!" Petrine said. Homasa stepped forward, and nodded.
"You can count on none else!" Homasa said.
"I will not suffer another failure, Kilvas. You must finish them, and quickly. Are we clear? I'm sick of being made a fool by the Crimean floozies and the pathetic band of sellswords!" Petrine said.
"And my fee?" Naesala asked.
"Don't worry, it will be ready. You'll receive it when the job is done," Petrine said.
"As long as we're clear, everything's settled. I'm off," Naesala said, flying to the field.
"Dog's breath… by half-breed standards, that crow's scum! Give him an inch, and he'll take a league! Untrustworthy wretch…" Petrine said.
"See ya later, Jill!" Mist said, sheathing her sword. Jill smiled, and watched her skip back to Ike's tent.
"Ah… good to be young and cheerful…" Jill said.
"Well, you're not that much older, huh?" a voice asked behind her. Jill turned around, and spotted a man in black approach her.
"Oh… Captain Haar. Wait, this is an enemy camp!" Jill said.
"I've been tracking you ever since you disappeared at Toha. I figured you were chasing the Crimeans. Joining them, though…" Haar said.
"At first, it was circumstance… but now it's different. I'm with them because I want to be. Spending time with them… talking to the laguz… laughing with Mist… what a fool I've been…" Jill said.
"Laguz? Now that's a word I would never have expected, Jill," Haar said. "And… you mentioned laughter? You must have some good experiences with this band."
"I knew that, if anyone would understand, it would be you, Captain," Jill said.
"So, you're forming your own set of values. Good… very, very good. But what's your long term plan? If you move forward, none other than General Shiharam Fizzart will be your opponent. What will you do then?" Haar asked.
"…I never asked for this. But as a member of the Crimean Liberation Army, I will face him with my shoulders straight and my head held high!" Jill said.
"So you're determined to see this through?" Haar asked.
"I am," Jill said.
"So be it. There's no more to say at this juncture. Next we meet… it will be as enemies. Prepare yourself… and make sure to get the rest you need," Haar said.
"…Thank you, Captain Haar," Jill said.
"Brr… I'll take on any number of enemies, but this snow is another story! My wings are icing over!" Janaff said.
"That sounds troublesome… will you be able to fly?" Ike asked.
"Of course I can fly. These wings aren't just for looks. They're flesh and blood and feathers. I don't need to hibernate during the wintertime!" Janaff said. "Can't beorc tell the difference between comedy and seriousness?"
"Oh… that was a joke? Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with bird tribe humour," Ike said.
"Ah, sincerity. Looks like someone taught you manners," Janaff said.
"…That's odd. Normally, people tell me I'm blunt," Ike said.
"Anyway… what are our chances?" Janaff asked.
"We're at a disadvantage," Ike said.
"That's not what I wanted to hear. You've got to do better, beorc general! If we lose, I'll never be able to show my face in Phoenicis again!" Janaff said.
"I said we're at a disadvantage. Not that we're going to lose. There's a man in Daein, a man with the might to completely stomp Ranulf into dust… and I'll be the last thing he sees," Ike said.
"Well said! I wish you could tell that to the kids back in Phoenicis! There are some weaklings back home I don't want to call hawks! I just want to stick 'em back in the eggs and start over!" Janaff said.
"You hatch from eggs? That's gotta be bird tribe humour…" Ike said.
"Of course it was. I was using a metaphor there. We haven't hatched from eggs for many generations… I'm out of here. I've gotta warm up the wings, or I'll wind up dropping into the snow like some dumb angel," Janaff said.
"…I knew it was bird tribe humour… but it actually happened?" Ike asked.
"Excuse me… can I come chat for a little?" Mia asked Ulki in another tent.
"What is it?" Ulki asked.
"I just wanted to say hello…" Mia said.
"Considerate of you," Ulki said.
"… Your king is very generous. I mean, to leave behind both of his retainers and Reyson?" Mia asked, trying to make conversation.
"…How do we pertain to his generosity?" Ulki asked.
"…Reyson kept apologising. Am I misinterpreting something here?" Mia asked.
"I don't know. The king can survive without us, I know that much," Ulki said.
"He can? I'm not Ike, and I doubt I'm close enough to be called his mistress, but I do know he can't run this army along. Titania, Soren, myself… without any of us three, this army would just collapse!" Mia said.
"Our king… he doesn't do anything particular. Everyone does what they are needed to. There is no chaos," Ulki said.
"Your king is trusted, isn't he?" Mia asked.
"Natural. In laguz society, the strongest become king. Kingship is not tied to blood, like the beorc, so there are no weak kings," Ulki said.
"Hm… Choosing a ruler by strength instead of birth makes much more sense," Mia said.
"When the hawks fight Begnion, we find those with weak leaders and eliminate them. Beorc weapons are powerful, and have overthrown the laguz once… but not everyone wields them to their full potential. Beorc choose generals by blood, and thus their competency is uneven… and that is a weakness of the beorc armies. As for General Ike's competency… I will be judging that in some time to come," Ulki said.
"No matter the strength of the individuals, that is worthless if they're a weak unit. I've formed a micro unit with some of the girls, and Marcia works with Rolf. I try to promote teamwork like that. Thank you for your words… and I promise. Ike will rise to the occasion!" Mia said.
"General, there appear to be a lot of enemy soldiers ahead. Mostly Daein, but there are Kilvan crows as well," Janaff said.
"Any comparison numbers?" Mia asked.
"There's a lot, but King Kilvas is among them," Janaff said.
"The crow king himself?" Ike asked.
"Yes. And the crow king has a class of his own: Raven King. He's no match for Tibarn… but we don't have the time to stall for his arrival," Janaff said.
"Yeah… an entire unit under the command of Kilvas? That bodes quite well," Mia said.
"We must choose a tactic to overcome this," Soren stated.
"Kilvan soldiers… hawks, I know there are inherent differences between you and the crows, but can you identify anything that might be useful?" Titania asked.
"As you know, we're outmanned. Is there a way to get the ravens to withdraw, maybe?" Ike asked.
"I might try to meet with him…" Janaff said.
"I might, as well… don't expect anything to come of it," Ulki said.
"I'm not talking to a crow. Ever," Reyson said.
"Either way, sitting here is just giving the enemy preparation time," Soren said.
"Move out!" Ike said.
"Sir! The Crimean army has arrived, sir!" a Daein reported.
"I hope they're prepared to pass into oblivion… for this will be their final resting place!" Homasa said, presenting his Sonic Sword.
"Crimean stragglers joined with an army on loan from Begnion… I even hear there's someone waiting to stab them in the back. And they march on… what an odd group. But when Kilvas stands on Daein's side, they have no future. Unlucky…" Naesala said, turning into raven form.
"The enemy has spotted us," Mia said.
"We're kind of hard to miss…" Ike told her.
"How do we move?" Mia asked.
"No tricks. Just hit 'em from the front, fast and hard," Ike said.
"If we don't do something about Kilvas, we'll be at a disadvantage," Mia said.
"Yeah, I've heard… but we can't run away," Ike said.
"We could get the bird tribes to talk to them," Mia said.
"They were clear about their refusal. I think Naesala had something to do with why we found Reyson in slavery. I'm not touching that with a ten-foot sword," Ike said.
"…I understand. Rolf, Astrid, Soren and Ilyana are on standby, ready with arrows and magic spells to cast," Mia said.
"Understood…" Ike said. With Tanith's judgemental eye on his back, Ike stepped behind the army, and Mia stepped forth.
"Our goal is to defeat the Daein commander. I'll handle the Naesala problem. Focus on Homasa… right, Mist?" Mia said. Mist nodded, and everyone else was at the ready.
"Go!" Mia said, turning around to begin her charge. She instantly disabled a ballista before anyone with wings was shot at. Astrid cantered both Soren and Ilyana into range, and King Kilvas approached them. They didn't cower.
"You? You both look rather squishy, for beorc. You'd make easy pickings!" Naesala said. Soren and Ilyana looked between each other, before revealing Soren's staff and Ilyana's knife.
"…What am I supposed to be looking at?" Naesala asked. Soren and Ilyana shrugged, and prepared the same mighty Tornado spell, casting it. Their combined magic sent Naesala reeling, forcing him back. Naesala shook himself, and created a Vortex in between them. He shot between the two sages, and looked around the Crimean army. He soared down, and reverted beside Reyson.
"Reyson!" Naesala said. Reyson turned away, and said nothing.
"Reyson… look at you. You look sharp," Naesala said. Reyson continued to say nothing.
"Come on, Reyson. I came through wind and arrows to talk to you…" Naesala probed.
"How dare you show your face to me," Reyson said.
"Well, I have been called brazen. Some even say shameless. Let me give you a reason," Naesala said.
"Begone," Reyson said.
"We're friends, aren't we?" Naesala added, on the brink of begging.
"Friends. Right. Friends who sell each other to wretched sacks of lard," Reyson said.
"I didn't sell you! Besides, I planned on rescuing you. You were just impatient…" Naesala said.
"Now you're blaming me," Reyson said.
"Reyson… perhaps I was in the wrong…" Naesala said. "On all accounts. Accidents happen. The important thing is, no one got hurt."
"…Leanne is alive," Reyson said.
"So you are willing to talk. Wonderful news… I'm sure King Lorazieh will begin to feel better once he sees her. Things are looking up, aren't they?" Naesala asked.
"I suppose… if it wasn't for that… we mightn't have found her…" Reyson said. He turned around, and looked at Naesala.
"I will forgive you. Just this once," Reyson said.
"Thank you, Reyson!" Naesala said.
"Conditionally," Reyson said.
"Con… conditionally?" Naesala asked.
"Pull your troops from this battle. Now. And never again fight with your fellow laguz," Reyson said.
"That's a little too much…" Naesala said.
"What will you do, then? Fight the army I serve?" Reyson asked.
"Very well… I suppose I really am annoyed with Daein paying me in paper that reads I.O.U. 100000G. I'll leave… as will Kilvas. However, I cannot say how the winds of the future will blow… I have to consider Kilvas as well," Naesala said.
"Very well," Reyson said.
"So… we're friends? Come to Kilvas sometime. Nealuchi will be so pleased," Naesala said.
"We'll do that. Leanne and I both," Reyson said.
"Oh, and as for Tibarn…" Naesala said.
"I will speak with him. No need for you to worry," Reyson said.
"Thank you. And watch yourself… this is war. And I almost forgot… I've got something for you. Call it 'I'm sorry'," Naesala said.
"What's this for?" Reyson asked.
"It's a laguz trinket called a knight ring," Naesala said.
"What does it do?" Reyson asked, putting it on.
"It allows a footsoldier, or laguz, to move with the vitality of a horse," Naesala said.
"Understood… I'm sure I'll find a use for it," Reyson said.
"And don't get killed… Nealuchi would never let me hear the end of it," Naesala said. He turned to raven form, and scarpered. All of the ravens followed.
"Naesala… thank you," Reyson said.
"Kilvas has betrayed us?" Homasa asked.
"I think 'abandoned' would be more accurate," a Daein said.
"Same thing… we should never have trusted them…" Homasa said. He looked around, and slid Naesala's next payment reminder further into his own pocket. He looked up, to see one of the Crimean girls facing him.
"Now who are you, little one?" Homasa asked, looking down.
"My name… is Mist Gawain. Remember it, Homasa, for it will be the last thing you hear!" Mist said, before plunging the sword she stole from Ike all those months ago into Homasa's chest. Homasa fell to the ground, and his Sonic Sword dropped from his hand. Mist touched it, and felt it jump into her hand. It split apart, and a tornado burst from within it. The Daeins surrounding Homasa prior stepped back.
"Hiya!" Mist cried out, raising the Sonic Sword. The tornado she created spun the Daeins into each other, and rocketed them far away. Mist fell to the ground, the sword's energy overtaking her own. Jill flew over, and scooped her up.
"We won… somehow…" Ike said, looking over the field.
"That was an excellent job driving off the ravens," Nasir said.
"Yeah… Naesala would have torn a hole in this army. I must say thanks to Reyson," Ike said. Elincia ran up, and smiled at Ike. Ike scratched behind his head, wondering how to voice the thought that Tanith was suggesting he not fight.
"Um… Ike? Princess Elincia, too… there's something over here you two should see…" Titania said.
"What could it be?" Elincia asked. Ike held out his hand, and led her to the building.
"This is…" Elincia said, looking at Mia. She had slashed several sacks stored in this room, and money poured out from each one. Each sack easily had more gold than the one Ranulf had given.
"Incredible? It's gold. All of it," Titania said.
"Daein must be filthy rich! There's so much of it… it's barely real. So what becomes of it?" Ike asked.
"Spoils of war. It belongs to us," Soren said.
"It is? … I'd like to borrow fifty thousand. It's a private matter… Mia, the rest is for company expenditure," Ike said.
"Ike, how are we supposed to carry all this gold?" Mia asked.
"…No idea. I'm sure Begnion will think of something… but for now, help me carry that sack. It's labelled fifty thousand… that's a relief," Ike said.
"Ike… thanks for what you have done. Consider this gold my gesture of good faith," Elincia said.
"You wanted to see me?" Volke asked. Ike and Mia entered the room, carrying the sack of fifty thousand.
"You've waited long enough. The gold I promised you… all fifty thousand pieces," Ike said. "Mia, leave us… this is a private matter."
"…Of course, Ike…" Mia said, giving Ike a kiss before leaving. Volke, meanwhile, had picked out one piece, inspecting it.
"Finally scraped it together, eh? I'll accept it," Volke said.
"Aren't you going to count it?" Ike asked. Volke bit the coin he held.
"There's no need. I trust you. Tastes like gold… even if it isn't exactly fifty thousand, the gesture was more important than the specification," Volke remarked.
"Ah. So, then… the report," Ike said.
"It doesn't exist. Never did," Volke said.
"You lied to me. You exploited my need to know about my father…" Ike said.
"The news I bear is something critically important… but it could never be written down. It's too great a secret. Your father told me to wait until I thought you were mature enough to hear it, and then to tell you myself," Volke said.
"Mature? What does fifty thousand have to do with it?" Ike asked.
"That was my idea. A test for your resourcefulness and responsibility… and I was a little peckish at the time," Volke said.
"So what do I need to hear?" Ike asked.
"I have been Greil's hired shadow a long time. I remained hidden from sight in case of the day that I needed to fulfil my contract… my one job," Volke said.
"Your job?" Ike asked.
"If Greil ever went Berserk, I was to take his life," Volke said.
"What?" Ike asked.
"Oh… and if Greil were ever slain by pursuers… I was to watch over his son and tell him Greil's secret at an appropriate time. That's my job," Volke said.
"Berserk… why would you have to kill my father?" Ike asked.
"Because of Lehran's Medallion," Volke said.
"Medallion?" Ike asked.
"The medallion your sister wears around her neck," Volke said.
"That bronze thing? I thought it a keepsake of my mother's… are you telling me there's more to it?" Ike asked.
"Greil told me it was an object of great peril, but nothing more. I investigated on my own, and found… well… Lehran was one of the herons, an ancestor to Prince Reyson, who carried a bronze medallion. Long, long ago, the heroes Altina, Soan, Lehran and Deghinsea defeated an evil god and imprisoned it therein," Volke said.
"An evil god? In contact with my sister? You have got to be pulling my leg!" Ike said.
"Unfortunately, I'm not. I have no idea how Greil got his hands on it. That being said, what the men seeking your father were after was that very medallion. Why they want it and what they plan to do with it… it gives me the chills," Volke said.
"This is a bit hard to swallow… an object of great peril? Then why does Mist wear it around her neck?" Ike asked.
"She can carry it safely. She's the only one who can, and even then, I have evidence to support the theory her combative personality is because of the medallion. Now, think carefully… have you ever touched it?" Volke asked.
"…Once, I reached out for it. My father scolded me quite harshly. After that, I assumed it was Mist's alone, and never reached for it again," Ike said.
"Compared to other people, the balance in your sister is extremely strong. You mother, it seems, was the same. They can bear it safely. The medallion is like a poison… it takes the worst aspects of a person and multiplies them a thousandfold. Greil touched it once, and it drove him to madness," Volke said.
"…Berserk?" Ike asked.
"Yes. Beorc and laguz are made of two forces, balance and chaos. In this, there is no difference between us. The proportion of balance to chaos determines how much the medallion affects a person. It predicts how much harm a person might do… Your father was one of the preeminent swordsmen of his generation. That day, after he touched the medallion… twenty soldiers came for him. Twenty highly trained killers. Your father barely broke a sweat cutting them down… then he began attacking the neighbours. People who had taken him in, concealed his identity, called him friend. He slew them, one by one, until your mother rushed in… thinking to save her husband from himself…" Volke said. He drew his knife, and stabbed into the table dramatically.
"It was over in an instant. Your mother grabbed the medallion from his hand and stepped away from him… they say she smiled as he pulled his sword from her breast and forgave him as her life's blood spilled into the street," Volke said.
"Father… killed Mother? No… no…" Ike said.
"The medallion. Its power was too great for any man… even one like your father. Me? You? If either of us touched it, I'm certain we would have been consumed by madness. When your father regained his senses, he tracked me down. It seems he'd heard rumours of me some time before. He said he needed someone like me. Closemouthed, skilled, and willing to do the dirty work. Of course, after hearing what he wanted me to do, I turned him down. Greil was a famed general. One of Daein's Four Horsemen, and possibly the first footsoldier to join that group. I recognised him immediately… there was no chance I could stop him," Volke said.
"But you eventually took the job… why change your mind?" Ike asked.
"Greil lost his wife, and his grief was overpowering. To keep that from happening again, he crippled himself. He slashed the tendons in his sword hand so that he could never wield a sword again. I took the job now that he had become someone I could handle. And he's still far stronger than most men," Volke said.
"What do I say…?" Ike said.
"Well, that's Greil's secret. I now entrust to you the responsibility to see that the medallion doesn't reach the wrong hands. Your sister must keep it," Volke said.
"…My father's last wish was that I forget everything and live in peace. What did that mean?" Ike asked.
"He didn't want you to lose yourself or go hunting for revenge, I suppose… he was killed sooner than he expected," Volke said.
"So… his dying wish was that I protect the medallion?" Ike asked.
"I believe so. That must take precedent above all else," Volke said. Ike nodded.
"Oh, and one last thing. Do you want to hire me? In the event that you go Berserk someday? If we make a deal now, you won't have to worry about it. As for payment… this fifty thousand seems apt. What do you say?" Volke asked.
"…That would be nice. I don't speak for the whole army, but I'm sure that might help," Ike said.
"Hm… I like your jib. Well… no need to conceal my true identity," Volke said.
"Huh?" Ike asked.
"I'm not a thief, really. I'm an assassin. I'll take any job you've got, no matter how… dirty," Volke said.
"Father… Mother… what did I get myself into?" Ike asked the heavens.